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The
region's continuing prosperity is mainly due to its
massive oil reserves , with Abu Dhabi possessing 95%
of the U.A.E.'s resources. About 2.4 million barrels
are pumped every day and experts predict that the Emirate
- the world's 10th largest oil producer - has reserves
for the next 200 years.
Abu
Dhabi also controls the largest share of the U.A.E's
gas reserves, with an increasing amount of natural gas
being processed for export. A huge investment programme
is underway to upgrade both oil refineries and gas processing
systems especially on Das Island, from which liquefied
natural gas is exported.
Historically,
the Emirate owes much of its wealth to pearls from the
Gulf, so it was fitting that the sea also yielded the
U.A.E's next precious commodity -"Black Gold".
Abu Dhabi continues to go from strength to strength,
with the ever increasing number of sky-scrapers dominating
the city's stunning skyline acting as testimony to its
success.
Traders and businessmen in the Abu Dhabi Emirate had
seen difficult days before the construction of Port
Zayed. Finding it impossible to enter the shallow waters
of the Abu Dhabi beach, the cargo ships used to dock
about 8km away from the coast and unload their shipments
on barges and small dhows which then transported the
cargo to the beach.
This
was a labourious and costly job for the importers, exporters
and the shipowners due to the high cost of loading and
unloading and the long periods that ships had to stay
out in the sea, particularly when bad weather delayed
the arrival of barges, and due to slow handling process.
The
history of Mina Zayed (or Port Zayed) is the history
of the UAE Federation. The construction of this Port
started in 1968 in fulfillment of the directives of
His Highness Sh. Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, in his
capacity as ruler of Abu Dhabi Emirate at that time.
However, the Port was officially inaugurated by His
Highness Sh. Zayed in 1972 in his capacity as the President
of the UAE.
Port
Zayed as the main gate of the Abu Dhabi Emirate to the
outside world extends valuable services to a wide range
of private and public sectors including the shipping
lines, shipping agents, importers, businessmen and other
port users.
The
unique location of the Port with its great potential
allows it to play a major role in the Gulf region and
the Middle East. The total area of the Seaport is 510
hectares in addition to 1000 square meters being the
area of the Free Port. Port Zayed has presently 21 berths
with individual depths varying between 9.5 and 15 meters,
allowing the arrival of all types of commercial trans-ocean
ships.
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